Complete this town survey >>
UPDATED, Dec. 2: streets. A state Department of Transportation grant totaling $10,947 makes the project possible. The money aims to support projects that promote public health, safe mobility and renewed commerce by providing new or repurposed space for socially-distanced walking, bicycling, dining, retail and bus travel.
This project, approved Aug. 17, builds on the Brooks Avenue demonstration project from last May. At its Oct. 5 meeting, the Select Board confirmed, in a 5-0 vote, that the pilot will be installed between Littlejohn Street (originally Wilson) and Margaret Street on Mary Street.
MAPC shared-streets webinar
About 6 weeks
The Mary Street pilot will be in place for about six weeks. The expected timeline is:
- Oct. 9: Town installs shared street pilot project on Mary Street;
- Week of Nov. 16: Town removes materials of Mary Street shared street; and
- Winter 2021: Town evaluates data collected during Mary Street pilot.
Consider these related matters:
See the Sept. 30 memo from planning >>
Town Manager Adam Chapdelaine told the board Oct. 5 that Dan Amstutz, senior transportation planner, heard support for the plan as well as concerns at an open forum.
The manager said he is “excited to implement pilot.”Member Joseph Curro Jr. asked whether the change might have an impact on grant funding, and Chapdelaine said he understood that it wouldn’t.
Curro expressed agreement with the new motion, as did Len Diggins. As to the the annual evaluation of the town manager, the board has moved forward with the process later than it usually does because of Covid-19. The past six evaluations have occurred in the spring.
Board Chair John Hurd said, there is “a lot of excitement about this down there,” noting he grew up in that neighborhood.
Member Steve DeCourcey noted the proposal is between Margaret and Littlejohn, not Wilson.
Manager evaluation
See agenda documents related to the evaluation >>
Diggins called the timeline problematic, because the virtual Special Town Meeting is set to begin Nov. 16 and board members need to time to seek staff opinions. He wondered whether the evaluation could be delayed until after Town Meeting.
DeCourcey, who with Diggins has not yet been part of a manager evaluation, said that, to be fair to the manager, the process should occur during calendar year.
Curro urged abiding by the timetable as proposed and suggested input from former Select Board member Dan Dunn.
Member Diane Mahon said the process should be completed by Dec. 31.
Curro moved to amend, and Diggins withdrew his motion.
See the ACMI video of the Oct. 5 meeting:
May 20, 2020: Feedback sought after 1-week shared-streets pilot near Hardy
This news summary, which includes town news releases from Joan Roman, was published Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2020, and updated Dec. 2, to add survey link.
